Desperate Housewives actress Felicity Huffman among 50 people arrested over college admissions scam

'American police have arrested 50 people including Hollywood actresses and chief executives of companies in connection to a scheme to fraudulently get their children into Ivy League universities, according to media reports.

Felicity Huffman, star of Desperate Housewives, is currently in custody, TMZ reported.

Actress Lori Loughlin, who appears in ABC sitcom Full House and 90210, is also among those facing charges, according to ABC News.

The 50 people are accused of paying bribes of up for $6 million (£4.6m) to secure places for their children at elite universities, including Yale, Stanford, Georgetown and University of Southern California (USC).

Twelve people are believed to be facing charges.

In most cases, the students did not know their admission was contingent on a bribe.

University athletic coaches and administrators of college entrance exams were also among those arrested.

Huffman and her husband, William Macy, are claimed to have made a $15,000 charitable donation in order to participate in the college admission cheating scam, on behalf of their eldest daughter, TMZ reported. Macy has not been charged.

Court documents unsealed in Boston allege that Huffman and her husband "later made arrangements to pursue the scheme a second time, for her younger daughter, before deciding not to do so."

Federal agents say they have recorded telephone calls with Huffman and a cooperating witness.

Loughlin and her husband, fashion entrepreneur Mossimo Giannuli, allegedly paid $500,000 to have their two daughters designated as members of the USC rowing team, even though they did not row. Mr Giannuli was charged along with his wife, TMZ reported.